Offshore ( Force 10 Gale) Ed. 2 of 8

Fiu 2004 S2H. Reduction print multicoloured, paper Hahnemuhle 300gsm W66 xH54cm

In 2004 I sailed in my first Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. It was onboard a yacht called Fiu. This was an Italian built Grand Soleil 46 a cruising boat usually charted in the Med.
We blew out our first spinnaker off Bondi, and our second and last a few hours later whilst charging downwind in the Nor'easter.
The weather forecast had us facing a southerly front sometime during the first night with expected winds of 45 knots. Some of the crew ( myself included hadn't sailed in winds of this strength before so there was some trepidation on what to expect.
Without the spinnakers, we were reaching heading south east, whilst the coast was disappearing further to the south west.
We were about 160 miles offshore by the time the front found us. forget 45Kts, someone said later that they saw 65 but it was regularly more.
The water surface was being blown from the sea horizontally, so much it was hard to see anything in front of your face. It was impossible to hear anything unless it was shouted into you ear, the rigging was like a jet engine beside you.
Fiu's crew numbered 15, however seasickness meant that we were only 6 to sail the boat.
we had 3 helmsmen so we had 2 hours on the wheel and then 4 hours off trying to hang on down below, the other 3 crew each went on watch with a helmsman to get help if needed, otherwise they just tried to hang on in the cockpit, head down from the spray and try not to be flung around.
at time, steering over a wave the boat would freefall off the back as the wave didn't have a back and down below the bodies would be launched into the ceiling.
on one of these waves the saloon furniture was ripped form the supports as the weight of the sick crashed back down.

I have attempted to portray this in my reduction linocut, however I doubt I could ever capture the scare of the gale.

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Geoff Hargraves Artist,
Sydney NSW, Australia

Printmaker
Painter
Currently painting in oils.
I prefer to paint on panels, as I dislike to movement that occurs when using canvas when the brush presses against the surface.
I make my own panels currently using ACM (Aluminium) and attach a mitred frame to the back to provide rigidity and an edge to the art piece.
The face surface is covered in Gesso in readiness for my painting.
My works are influenced by my past passions of surfing, yachting, and nature.
I spent the first 40 odd years in country NSW, and the next 20 odd in Sydney.
For most of my time in Sydney I have owned and enjoyed sailing on Sydney Harbour on one or the other of the two yachts that I have owned in that time.
I explored the harbour and have crewed on race yachts on the harbour and offshore, including several international races.
This experience shows in some of my subject matter and has resulted in commissions for yachts and boats.

Exhibitions
2025, ArtTraveller Exhibition, Audrey Fine Arts, Pyrmont.
2024-2025 Summer exhibition, The Gallery, Wooli
2024, Radiant Landscapes, The Watchhouse Balmain.
2024, The Other Art Fair, Sydney NSW
2024, “Celebrate Wooli”, solo exhibition, The Gallery, Wooli NSW.
2022, Art Reach exhibition, St. George Art Society (31 May- 23June) Parliament House NSW
2021, "Best Kept Secret", group exhibition. The Art Passage, Miranda NSW.
2021, “Wind and Water”, solo exhibition. The Art Passage, Miranda NSW.
2019, “Out and About”, group exhibition. Palm House, Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney.
2019 Annual Highlights exhibition, Gauge Gallery, Glebe
2018, Favourites and Festive finale, Gauge Gallery, Glebe
2018, Happenstance, group exhibition, Gauge Gallery Glebe
2017, Imagine, group exhibition, Bankstown Arts Centre
2017, “If you like art”, group exhibition. Brookvale NSW 11-13 March

Selections
2022, St George art society, exhibition NSW Parliament house finalist
2022, Wooli art Prize, awarded “Highly Commended” judged painting section.
2021, Mission to Seafarers Art Prize, finalist
2019, Fishers Ghost Art Prize, Finalist
2019, Wooli art Prize, awarded “Highly Commended” judged painting section.

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